FUNCTION: [Summary is not available for the mouse gene. This summary is for the human ortholog.] This gene encodes an enzyme that converts N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuNAc) to cytidine 5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuNAc). This process is important in the formation of sialylated glycoprotein and glycolipids. This modification plays a role in cell-cell communications and immune responses. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2016]